Daughter went wild on vacation?

Question

My daughter (7) just went wild on our vacation. We were at the beach and evidentley she thought that meant that she did not have to follow the rules. She had a smart attitude towards my husband and me the whole trip. The final straw happend when she left the hotel room without permission and went to the game room. It scared us to death. When we found her, my husband took her back to the room and spanked her hiney for leaving the room without telling us. She made us feel bad for spanking her on vacation, she kept on telling us "I was just having fun." We did not let her swim the next day. I feel worse than my husband does, but I don't think we should of let her run all over us on vacation. Were we too severe, should we have been more lenient.

Answer 1

Well yes, you should have punished her. But NEVER hit a child. Violence doesn't solve anything. Not letting her swim is a good enough punishment. Not severe, just right. No more spanking.

Answer 2

I don't think you were being harsh. Did you explain to her why it's not okay to go running off w/o your permission or supervision?

With all the kooks and wierdos today, you have to do whatever is necessary to ensure that they are protected.

In my opinion, as long as you talked to her and explained that it's dangerous to go out w/o supervision, I think you did just fine.

Disciplining children is not easy. It wasn't until I had kids that I finally understood that my parents really were telling the truth when they said "This hurts me more than it hurts you."

Answer 3

i think you were perfect.

i mean, that's no way she should be acting,

even if you were on vacation.

in fact, ESPECIALLY if you were on vacation.

she could get lost in an area that she isn't familiar with.

Answer 4

No,you were not too severe.  I think a spanking was called for as well as no swimming the next day.  What she did was extremely dangerous.  Parents today are way too lenient with kids and allow them to walk all over them.  It is possible to have fun on vacation while still following the rules.  Parents have a duty to raise respectful, responsible and safe children.

Answer 5

You should have spanked that hiney. As long as your not punching on her or fighting her like she's an adult, sometimes you have to tap that bottom

Answer 6

Heck no you weren't too severe, I am not a spanker but if I was I can see that being a very good reason to do so.

Answer 7

You might get mixed reviews on spanking, but at 7 a spank on the but to me is no big deal.  I think you were right in diciplining your daughter, you have to stick to a punishment so they understand you mean business.  If you didn't lay our the rules of how you expect her to behave on vacation, just make sure you do that.  Make sure she understands the rules and if she breaks them there will be consequences; ie no swimming, time out, no TV etc.  She needs boundries and looks like your giving them to her so don't beat yourself upabout it.

Answer 8

Wow! I would have flipped like an insane woman. Snuck off. I'm getting dizzy thinking about that. I don't spank either- but I think I might have. That's pretty bad. No you didn't over react. Let her know she can't do that.

Answer 9

you did right.... spank dat behind... my son is 16 months and if he did that when he was 7 i would get that behind too don't listen to other people not even me ....it's your child not theirs.... your daughter will know to respect and follow your rules whether your on vacation or at home.....jus remember a spanking is not the same as abuse...hope this helps

Answer 10

No you were not too severe.  I always feel really guilty when I punish my kids, but it needs to be done for their safety.  You needed to let her know that you meant business and you did.  She will probably think twice before she does something like that again.

Answer 11

I'm not a big fan of spanking, but that doesn't mean that I don't do it. I always save it for a last resort. But I would have popped her lil booty for leaving the room w/out permission. That was very dangerous and there are so many bad people out in the world right now, you just can't trust anyone. You shouldn't feel bad about this at all. She needs to know that it was wrong to do what she did and act the way she was acting. You should tell her that she can have fun w/out breaking rules. I think that she was just trying to test you guys to see how much stuff that she could get away with. All children do it. I believe that she definately learned her lesson and that she will behave better next time.

Ya'll are being a very concerned and a good parents. Don't let it get to ya.

Answer 12

People need to cool it on this anti-spanking revolution c**p.

There is a difference between hitting a child on the bottom to discipline them and throwing them against a wall.

Children who are spanked when they do something wrong are more likely to understand the consequences of bad actions and correct those actions in the future.

Abusing your children is terrible, but 'spanking' is not.

Parents who are terrified of spanking are the parents who end up with one of the twelve girls who have posted 'OMGZ I'M LIKE 15 AND PREGNANT LIKE WHAT DO I TOTALLY DO MY MOM IZ BEING A *****' on here today alone

Be a parent, Jesus.

Answer 13

Spanking your child in honestly not the right thing to do because it dosnt solve anything it just builds up dislike toward the parents and caused her to do more bad things. Not letting her swin was a very good punishment. Dont feel bad for punishing your daughter. Your the parent and shes the child. She has to do everything you say untill shes 18. And dont let her get you by guilt, thats what she wants to happen. Letting her know you feel bad about what you did gives her power. Good advice is be a kind parents but dare let your child walk over you.

Answer 14

I think that you handle it in an appropriate manner.  The main issue is that she felt confident enough to leave your room alone.

She needs to be educated on strangers/predators and that this is NOT o.k.  Anywhere vacation or at home, you need to know where she is at all times.  It is not that you don't trust her, it is just the era we live in.

Good luck!

Answer 15

No, you weren't too severe! My 4 year old tried acting like this ONCE on our vacation and he learned quick that it wasn't going to happen. You just need to let your daughter know that she wasn't in trouble for wanting to have fun. She was in trouble because the way she was acting was dangerous when on vacation. Leaving your parents and not listening to what they say can get her hurt and you and her father were just trying to protect her and make her understand that. You love her and would never want anything bad to happen to her so it's very important that she listen and follow rules, especially on vacation with so many unfamiliar places and people.

Answer 16

I honestly dont think spanking is proper for everything but for leaving the room with out letting anyone know I would of done the same thing..someone could of kidnapped her!